Things I Learned: Mark Rober Monthly Creative Engineering Class Review
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- The top 5 things I learned in Mark Rober's Monthly Creative Engineering class, and a quick review.
I've been watching Mark Rober's videos since he first joined CZcams. I love seeing the end results of his projects, and always wanted to know the process he follows when actually making them behind the scenes. After nearly a decade, that's now possible.
Mark's class is a great intro to mechanical and electrical engineering, even for beginners. At the same time, it contains a wealth of knowledge for more experienced makers. Hobbyist builders, engineers, and even video creators will learn all kinds of useful tips and tricks for their next project.
This video is not sponsored. I paid for the course myself, and it was worth every penny. This should give you a summary of what I found to be the most meaningful takeaways from the class. If I've piqued your interest, definitely consider taking Mark's course "Creative Engineering with Mark Rober", and use this referral link to get $20 off:
monthly.com?friend=christian-platt
Once again, this is not a sponsorship. Everyone who signed up the class received a referral code. At the time of this video being published, the most recent class has ended, however you can put your name on the waitlist. When you sign up, remember to use the link above for $20 off.
Happy Engineering!
Join me.
-- Attributions --
Music (in order, all by Patrick Patrikios):
Dude
Crazy
We March Together
Good Times
Love Aside
Hot Coffee
Dynamite
Running Out
Graphics:
1) Description
2) Download
3) Artist/Source
4) License
Mark Rober 2020 by Countingmagic from Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0
bit.ly/3dhPMbB
bit.ly/3deP1jp
bit.ly/2N0QBej - Věda a technologie
hello man ive been watching reviews on his class and your video definitely is the most well made one out there and it demonstrates marks pacing and music .i really loved the video and watched the whole video without skipping a second.fair to say your video making skill are there.good luck
That's the best compliment I could have received on this video; that I was able to implement what I learned. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch it through and give feedback. It made my day reading this.
Take Mark's class, you'll love it, and stick around here for the projects I made during the course as well as ones I create in the future. I'm nearly done with my first project video, currently filming the last scenes. I hope you enjoy.
Am really glad I wrote that cuz i very rarely leave comments.I would love to take marks course but it is too expensive for me at the moment
I get that. Some family members of mine were generous enough to help me out paying for the course as a gift during the holidays. When you're able to, use the referral link in the video and you should get some money off.
In the meantime, see if you can get your hands on an Arduino Uno kit. Start playing with that if you're up for it, and begin to get a feel for how the coding works. Lots of free tutorials around. Even a basic understanding will help you out during the course. Aside from that, look around your house for a problem you could fix mechanically and see if you can fix it by building something with materials you already own. That kind of tinkering does wonders for creativity. Take some ideas from my videos, and check out other makers as well. So many unique projects are being posted each month. It's a really great time to be a maker.
Excellent video! Keep it coming man, looking for to what you’ve got planned
Thank you, wrote the first draft of my next video script today! Can't wait to release my first project from the class.
Cool channel! I love engineering projects like Mark’s and want to see more out of his channel. I’m following you from now on. Keep it up!
Thanks so much for the support and the sub! You joined at the perfect time. Today I sit down for day two of editing my next video. Sneak peek: it's the actual first project I set out to make during Mark's class. Let's just say it's a... noticeable upgrade... to the air cannon from my how-to video.
Great video man! I love Mark too and have thought about taking his class!
Thank you! I really enjoyed the class, and given you're a fan of Mark's I'm sure you will as well. I like his take on simplifying things down and working one piece at a time (a common approach, but it's always nice to have a refresher from someone who explains things so well).
If you end up deciding to take it, check the video description for a referral link to get a discount on the course, and let me know what you built/thought of it afterwards!
Thanks so much for this! I have been wondering if I should take this course, and you have helped me make my decision
Happy to pass along the info! I enjoyed it, and you will too. It's a lot of fun to be making things alongside others, and just trying something new for the fun of it. Have fun!
found this video accidentally and i saw your other videos. i'm impressed! you just gained +1 subscriber! keep it up!
Thanks for the support and the sub! Just getting started and I can't wait to release more videos. My latest project is complete and I'm about to start filming the video for it. Stay tuned!
Came for the review, subbed for the content 👍
Glad to have you! It's been a while since I've posted due to some general life busyness, and once that's calmed down a bit I'll be refocusing on more videos. Can't want to share some new projects.
Great video. Came for the info on Mark's class. Stayed for the clear and concise content with a few laughs tossed in. If you are interested in the class, this gives a good outside looking in view.
I'm so glad you enjoyed. I do my best to keep my videos well rounded in those respects. The class was solid, I had fun with the builds, and overall I'd recommend it should you want to get some maker practice in. The build I conceptualized during the class (then finished afterward) is actually posted on my channel now. It's the quad barrel air cannon video. Check it out for some more laughs if you'd like, and if you take the class... have fun!
How do you have so few subs holy. Your video is really high quality
I really appreciate that. I'm starting to get a bit of traction, and my aim is to release videos more frequently in the future. That should help more and more viewers see my videos. If you'd like, check out some of more other builds. I always enjoy hearing my viewers' thoughts on what was done well and what I can improve on. More to come!
Excellent video! I’m also on Team not sponsored for my course review 😁😂
Thank you! Somebody's gotta get the info out. Imagine if it becomes #sponsored one day? 🙂
Mark Rober course
I plan on taking the course over the summer. I understand that a arduino kit is necessary, but what other tools should I get? I have absolutely nothing. I understand that each project requires different things but I’m afraid that once I’m in the course and decide what I’m doing, when I order the parts they won’t arrive on time. Mark in his video said that you want your items to arrive as soon as possible.
Good to get ahead of the curve for that reason. I'd suggest the following as a good base:
Tools: Power drill + drill bits, hacksaw, and a hot glue gun.
Consumables: tape (gaffer tape is a favorite of Mark's), hot glue, and super glue.
Those items can get you through a lot of making. Materials will vary like you said, and Mark encourages both using stuff you already have around the house, as well as your local hardware store so you can get things quickly.
Only other thing is the electronic components to which are hard to source locally in certain places. While I can't know what your project will end up being, a few LEDs, resistors, and maybe a small motor or servo will help a lot. Your Arduino kit will likely come with some of those.
Keep your projects during the course achievable (remembering you have about a week per project) and you'll feel satisfied. But of you don't finish one, don't worry. I submitted partial projects for the first ever course this past February. I still got feedback on my work, and I'm finishing this projects now. Life happens, and making is a long term skill. Manage time as best you can during the course, and remember to have fun with it. The course is not meant to be stressful.
3:47 does anyone know which specific program that is? I used to take a class learning how to use it, but I've forgotten the name of it
I got you, friend. The program is Fusion 360, made by Autodesk. Here's a link: www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal
@@HardwareUnknown What a legend
Your channel doubled in two months? #Goals
Great video, thanks for sharing!
It's been a lot of work, and I feel very fortunate to see the channel starting to gain some traction.
I just finished a project I originally started during Mark's class actually, and I'm about to beginning filming the videos for it. Looking forward to the next release. Thank you for the continued support!
What was some of the best ideas you seen from students? I’m signed up for the upcoming course and would love some ideas to know what I may be up against!
Also, what kinda tools will I need for this? Or what kind would you recommend I buy before my course starts?
Thanks for this video
There were a lot of cool projects! Given the class is meant for all ages and backgrounds, everyone will have a different skill level. No official "competition" is held, it's just everyone helping others make cool stuff. That being said, there were projects of all types from cat feeders, to an Arduino powered frame-by-frame light sculpture (like those neon signs you see), to a device that helped motivate someone to go on their morning run, to (shameless plug) the air cannon I made shown in another video. The possibilities are endless, and if you're interested in making art, a tool, or anything else related to the prompts, go for it.
As for tools, you can do a lot with a hacksaw, power drill, and a hot glue gun. You'll also want an Arduino kit for the electronics portion. Grab yourself some drill bits and hot glue sticks and have at it. If you need a particular tool beyond that, you can always go to the hardware store.
Hey, thanks for the view and the questions! I appreciate others taking time to enjoy the work I've put in. Makes it worthwhile.
@@HardwareUnknown Oh wow, I appreciate you putting in the effort to give me a thorough response!
I cannot believe that I am actually beyond excited for something that most people would consider to be like school work lol. I really hope that this class will teach me how to make a dad that loves me! Every other class I have taken including 4 years at Harvard hasn't been able to show me how to do that!
My pleasure, I'm always thankful for my viewers and I enjoy when they engage with me. I do what I can to answer questions as quickly as possible, I think that interaction is an important part of anyone aiming to be a content creator.
Making stuff is really special for that reason. Learning how to create something is so rewarding, it changes your perspective of what work/homework is. That's one of the many reasons I love being a maker. Glad you're so excited, you should be. And hey, maybe you'll learn to make some robots that can impersonate anyone you may want in life. 😁
Would you recommend this to my son he’s very interested in engineering and watches all of Marks vids. He’s 14 going into High school. Great video
Thank you, and I absolutely would. He's at the perfect age to begin learning about building techniques, Arduino, and more. As someone who has taken several college engineering courses, I enjoyed it a lot and found it very valuable. He certainly will too especially if he loves Mark's videos (and it's totally accessible to nearly all ages; you don't need to have any prior engineering schooling to take the class).
It's also perfectly suited for you and your son to take together and collectively build the projects you come up with, if you'd like. Great learning experience and bonding time. If you end up purchasing the course for him, I have a discount code in the video description that will save you some money.
@@HardwareUnknown thank you! Will use that code!
Enjoy the course! And good luck to your son as he moves towards engineering. It's a great career, and as you can see from my videos, also an enriching pastime.
What would you say the extra cost would look like for someone with little to no equipment? I mean beyond the cost of the course, how much would you spend extra materials are required such as Arduinos, Rasberry Pis, powerdrills, etc.?
I checked out the course (it looks very worthwhile!) but it seems the equipment list is only provided after committing to the course : )
Your builds can be as complex (and more expensive) or as simple (and inexpensive) as you want, keeping in mind each has about a week designated for it. Mark recommends using as much material/parts as you can from what you currently own. It provides a good design challenge. You can do a lot with a hacksaw, power drill, and a hot glue gun. A cheap set of tools like that can be found for about $60-$70 on Amazon. You'll also want an Arduino kit, and you can go with a non Arduino brand one to save money when you start out ($30-$40). After that, add maybe $20 for consumables like hot glue, tape, and superglue. Materials like wood and plastic are entirely build dependent and I'd suggest using cardboard and household things you find if you're looking to keep costs down. The nice part is that the bulk of the extra charges I just mentioned are hard goods that are reusable (tools, Arduino, etc). The materials are relatively low cost after that if you'd like them to be, and everyone can benefit from having some basic tools around.
Overall, I'd plan for $120-$150.
@@HardwareUnknown Thank you so much! And thanks for the great video
My pleasure! Always happy to help others get into making. Good luck, and if you decide to take the course I have a discount code in the video description.
Hey I just had another question about this course, if my friend and I are doing it at the same time is there a way that we could be in the same peer group with each other? I have already signed up for it but he has not yet.
I believe there is. I haven't tried it myself so I can't confirm the success or not, but try this out: each time someone signs up with my referral code I get an email that mentions I will be placed in their peer group if I sign up for the class again. If you can access your Monthly.com account right now, find your referral code. Have him use your code rather than mine to buy the course. He should get the money off the course, you'll get a $20 Monthly credit for a future course, and according to the email he should be in your peer group. Let me know if this works. If not, still let me know so I don't give incorrect advice in the future. Maybe send an email to Monthly support when your friend signs up to make sure the pairing process work properly.
@@HardwareUnknown ok thank you so much!
Good luck! Hope it works out, and enjoy the class together. Really cool thing to do with a friend.
@@HardwareUnknown thanks!
is it worth it for the price ?
As someone into making and working on content creation, I felt it was. I knew the vast majority of making methods/techniques already, yet it was the things I mentioned in the video that made me feel I got my money's worth. To me, just hearing a really successful maker creator mention things like the importance of focusing on story (as obvious as that may seem) really helped me take a step back and rethink my content. Sometimes you need that outside perspective/reminder.
From a purely maker perspective (not considering content creation): if you're looking for 100% unique maker techniques and lesser known tips, no, there aren't many of those in the course as it caters to a wide spread of makers including brand new ones. However, if you are new to/not familiar with making, and are looking to get a crash course, I think this is a great one to start with. While you can find the information on the internet (a good option as well), having it in one place presented accessibly is great. Some people don't like spending money and would rather spend the time finding the information and piecing it together. Different views, and either is fine. For the newbie/newer person, I'd give it a shot, especially if you have a kid or family member you're taking it with.
How intense is this class? I am going to camp for 5 days in the middle of the class and I am super into engineering, would I be able to make it up? It is not about the time it would take for me, it is about the "would I be able to with the flow of the class"?
The class involves watching a series of videos for each section (fundamentals, mechanical build, electrical build, and a combined electro-mechanical build). The pacing is suggested by Monthly via deadlines so that you watch the videos, then submit prototypes and finished projects at the same time as your peers. This works out to about one series of videos and one project per week. You will still be able to submit your project after this, it’s just that your peers will already have responded to most of the prior projects and be working on their next one. You can spend as much or as little time on the project as you’d like. Some people do complex projects, others keep it simple, it just depends on their preference and the amount of time they want to spend.
Point is, you may be a bit behind on the project for the week you go to camp, but if you’re willing to power through the videos and catch up, you can always do a simpler project for that one to make up for it. In other words, you can vary the intensity to your own situation. Many people end up submitting partially completed projects (myself included) due to time constraints, life events, or simply needing to develop their skill set more. That’s the point of the class; to help anyone develop their engineering skills. I found a lot of value in the videos and just being tasked with a project at all despite the fact that to this day I’m still finishing the projects I set out to. Engineering is a lifelong journey. If you like the idea of the class, take it, and don’t worry about the dates. You can always watch the videos afterward as you’ll have permanent access to them even after the class is over.
Everyone has a different pace. I say go for it.
@@HardwareUnknown Okay thank you so much for the answer! I will definitely do the class now, thanks!! My dream job is to engineer my way to my own business, and this class looks like it will give me a head start! Your video was very very helpful and I will definitely come back to this channel for more! subbed +🔔+👍🏼
Thanks again!
We share that dream, my friend. Keep after it, learn all you can, and build what you love. Use that referral code in the video description when you sign up and you'll save some money on the class.
Thanks so much for supporting the channel, always ask questions, and enjoy all the projects to come. I'm just getting started.
@@HardwareUnknown thank you so much, I will make sure to come back. I will also make sure to use that code for a discount. Thanks, and you can expect to see me commenting in your other videos😃
The world needs engineers to create the future. Keep at it my friend. Making things is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world, and it's an amazingly enriching way to spend your life. Good luck, let me know how the class goes for you, and I look forward to seeing your comments and talking with you in future videos.
I subscribed at 1.09K
Glad to have you here! I'll make the subscription worth it. Lots of projects to come. Ridiculous ones like the quad-barrel air cannon, and more.
1000th view!
We're making progress! Thanks for supporting the channel.
Keep the viseos going! I already added a few to my watch later list
Every view is appreciated, and I'm just getting started so prepare for tons more to come. 😀 About to begin filming my next one! Stay tuned.
The class i can’t pay for for some reason
Can you describe what you're doing? It was straightforward for me so I don't know if I'll be able to diagnose the issue. However, with more information I'll do what I can.
@@HardwareUnknown I’m just trying to buy the course and it doesn’t let me it says error
Huh, that may be a question for the site's customer service team, depending on if the error comes from the site itself or from your browser.
So one thing I found is that Monthly switched their company name to Studio and stopped the referral codes from working. You may have to manually go to their website, Studio.com, and sign up now.
@@HardwareUnknown thank you
I guess it keeps the energy up, and it's found on other YT channels as well, but I can't help thinking that 3 or more otherwise unmotivated jump cuts every sentence throughout the entire video seems distracting. Maybe I'm just too old.
You're not too old, it's just a style among many. I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of how pervasive it is, but as a small content creator, I need to try all sorts of things to see what works. For better or for worse, having the more punchy, energetic videos does so far seem to improve my overall video stats, which is important for growth. I'm not sure I'll stick with it forever, but it was a worthwhile test as it seems others that use it like Mark are on to something given the results. I do like cutting out the dead space where I am messing up my lines, but perhaps there's a way to do so that feels more natural. I'll have to keep playing with it as I continue making videos. Thank you for the feedback.